416 The Outline of Science 



to our forefathers by their having a pet name added. Thus the 

 Daw is the Jack Daw, the Redbreast is Robin, the Wren is 

 Jenny, the Pie is Magpie, the "Mag" being short for Margaret. 

 In early prints of ploughing, the closeness of the connection be- 

 tween men and birds is naively pictured. In one of the earliest 

 illustrations of sowing, for instance, the birds crowd so closely 

 on the heel of the sower that they have to be driven off with stones 

 or even whips, and they are seen springing beyond the leap of a 

 small dog that has been sent to chase them. In modern times 

 the charm possessed by birds is partly that of friendship, but 

 more that of delight in their songs and feathers. The following 

 birds form only a few examples chosen for some special interest. 



The Nightingale 



It has often been disputed whether the Nightingale's song 

 is really the sweetest. It certainly owes something to the stage 

 on which it is set, for when the bird arrives the field and garden 

 arc gay with spring flowers. The Cuckoo arrives just about the 

 same time. It sings all day, but the Nightingale mostly in the 

 evening, and the sweetness of his note is enhanced by the light of 

 stars and the scent of blossom. Whether it is a melancholy or 

 a merry song has long been disputed. It certainly is not loud, 

 because when the Nightingale sings by day it is not noticed amid 

 the clamour of other bird music. Mr. W. H. Hudson says: "Its 

 phrasing is more perfect than that of any other British melodist, 

 and the voice has a combined strength, purity and brilliance, 

 probably without a parallel." 



The Blackbird and the Song-Thrush 



The Blackbird's voice is remarkable for its great strength 

 and for the wonderful rich quality of its tone. He is a clever 

 mimic, like several other songsters, and has been heard to imitate 

 the Nightingale's song with some measure of success. There are 

 several recorded instances, too, of his crowing exactly like a 



